Lively-Listening

We are nearing the end of our walk through the Baptismal Covenant this Lent. The last question we are asked in the vows is “will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?”

I wonder how often we are oblivious to the needs around us. Unless an injustice is brought to our attention, we can be too busy with our own routines to notice. News stories can, in fact, desensitize us because there is sooo much violence and injustice that we can start to feel that we can do nothing.

As part of our work at living more fully into our baptismal vows, we might need to become more aware and more active at listening. I don’t just mean listening to what is said, but more often than not to what is not said. Yes, there is pain and suffering. Yes, we have promised to make a difference. Yes, it can be overwhelming. Perhaps we need to ask, "Lord, which thing is speaking to my heart?"

After the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy people responded with compassion in many ways. And so it is after any disaster. Day-to-day struggles to survive sometimes don’t make it to the news, but are just as important.

At the retreat the beginning of March, attendees heard about a ministry to women in two adjacent border communities. One town is in Mexico and one in the United States. It is really one community with a wall through the center. On both sides of the border there are needs that you could easily miss.

Children, who were born in this country and are able to attend school in the US, but whose parents cannot cross to go to school events or teacher conferences. Families who live in such poverty that collecting cans is a means of getting money to buy food.Children who do not have a blanket or even underwear. Women who are raising their children alone because the men in their lives have been killed by drug cartels.

Amid this, one woman is empowering women to create cottage industry and helping provide food, coats, blankets, and other necessities on both sides of the border. She heard the need with her heart and was moved to respond. She did not know what she was getting into, but she heard God saying, “Feed my sheep” and “whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me”. In the eyes of the young and old she sees God and responds. You can learn more about helping the Las Palomas ministry. 

I have another friend who heard a different need. Her heart heard the need of families who are living under the shadow of having a family member incarcerated. She built a ministry to those children and parents based on sharing the Bible, a meal, crafts, and music in a ‘party’. It has expanded across the nation and there have even been parties in Africa and India. Wings Ministry now has a weekly program to help build assets and support the children and families even further. God is in the least of these-the victims of bad decisions by a parent or other family member. They are learning that God hasn't forgotten them.

There are many other such stories. Ministries to the disenfranchised that quietly go on, run by women and men who heard the need and responded. We may not all be able to actively work with the homeless or the poor or the sick or those in prison. What we can do is ‘hear’ the need and respond in whatever way we are able. Maybe it is filling a shoebox with toiletries and gifts at Christmas for Las Palomas. Perhaps it is a cash donation toward a Wings party. It could be bringing canned goods for your church or local food pantry.

Just possibly God is calling you to personally respond to something you see on the news. Listen to the needs and then listen to how God is calling you to respond.

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday and we will enter the journey to the Cross. Come and see what Love our Father has for us.